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Thursday, February 27, 2014

I’m
embarrassed to say I’ve battled the green-eyed monster and it’s won. Most of us
struggle with envy at one time or another, but we writers have a more difficult
time.

We’re already pounding the pavement to get our book agented or bought or
marketed. We’ve worked so hard to be noticed. And then someone comes along and signs
a three-book deal with a New York publisher.

When we get
an agent, the fun doesn’t stop there because we become envious of all those
people who have a publisher. Thenwhen our baby is finally in print, our eyes narrow into green slits because
someone else got a multi-book contract. Needless to say, the monster-go-round
doesn’t stop when we sell two books at a book signing but our friend sells twenty.

The problem
is that jealousy can morph into despair. He made it to the bestseller’s list,
she’s #105 on Amazon, so why should I even bother? Instead of striving to write
the best we can, we aim for mediocrity and usually hit it.

I have no
pet formula for permanently escaping the dragon of jealousy. But there are a few
things that have helped me:

Owning up to it. I might sing in the choir or
teach a Bible study, but it doesn’t make me immune.

Confessing to a friend. This is tougher. When I
tell someone that I’m jealous, I’m admitting I’m flawed. My prideful self
doesn’t like that one bit.

Asking God to change my attitude toward my
friend.

Asking God to rearrange my priorities and
expectations. Am I writing for my own glory or for God’s? Am I willing to wait
for His timing? Do I trust Him?

I hate to
admit how many fellow Christian writers I’ve envied: The gal who attended her
first writers conference and sold an article to Focus on the Family, while it took me years to make a magazine
sale. The novelist who got a three-book contract while I was struggling to get
any interest in my stand-alone. The author who sold a hundred copies at one book
signing while I sold two at mine.

God is
continuing his work in me. I can usually rejoice when a friend gets that
prestigious award, even when I wish it were me. I can smile when a fellow
writer sells seventy copies in a coffee shop. My next challenge? Being really
happy when someone’s novel is optioned for a Steven Spielberg movie.

Jealousy is
woven into human DNA. We can’t do much on our own to change it, but God can.

About Bonnie Doran:

Bonnie’s debut novel, Dark
Biology, released September 2013 from Harbourlight, an imprint of Pelican
Book Group.

She lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband of thirty
years. They’re owned by two Siamese cats. John is an electrical engineer who
works with lasers for a living. He’s also a Mad Scientist who owns a 2,300-pound
electromagnet.

Bonnie’s interests besides writing include reading, cooking,
solving Sudoku puzzles, and volunteering
at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. She attends a local science fiction
convention as well as various writers conferences each year. She is a member of
American Christian Fiction Writers, its North Denver Chapter, and the Denver
Area Science Fiction Association.

Dark Biology:

Renowned vaccinologist "Hildi" Hildebrandt has set her sights on
beating her brother to a Nobel Prize, and the opportunity to conduct
experiments on the International Space Station might just provide the means to
obtain that goal. Chet Hildebrandt should have had that opportunity. But now
he'll teach a lesson to them all: his hot-shot astronaut sister, his
philandering hypocritical father, and the CDC for not properly appreciating his
work. One vial of a virus purloined from the CDC labs and released at his
father's marriage seminar should do the trick, without hurting anybody. After
all, it's only a mild influenza strain...Or is it?

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

He brought forth the earth and
seas and sky and everything above, below and in between…out of “thin air,” as
the saying goes. But it wasn’t magic. It was creation (the act of producing or causing to exist, according to Dictionary.com).

And it wasn’t easy. God needed
rest after he’d finished His work. The first verse in the Bible is most likely
the ultimate understatement of all time. I’m convinced those six days of

intense creation entailed far more thought and planning than scripture reveals.
Is it possible there might even have been a “do-over” or two?

We’re allowed to see only the
finished product of God’s original creative process. He kept specific details—the
“making of” the making of the world—to Himself. Just handed us the complete,
finished work to enjoy.

Isn’t that what we do as writers?

Our Father taught us by example,
and we’d do well to follow the Leader:

·
Start with a blank canvas. Nothing there. Just an empty page and the desire to turn it into
something magnificent.

·
Let there be light. Come up with a bright idea
and shine it into some kind of outline, plan, synopsis, scribbled overview…whatever
works best for each individual.

·
Bring in the atmosphere. God placed the sky
between the heavens and the earth. We create a mood…a blue sky or a dark one.
The atmosphere that will have a
bearing on every page of our creation.

·
Fill the pages with life.

o
God put plants and trees in the land He’d
created. We insert situations that
make readers want to know what happens next.

o
He overhung all those growing things with the
sun, moon and stars. (Aha! Our Father knew we would need a bit of spark in our
lives.) Writers must also set off some fireworks that liven the atmosphere and
make hearts pound a little harder.

o
He then filled the land, sea and sky with
life—sea creatures, birds, animals…and man. Yep, characters, human and
otherwise.

Writers are a far cry from being
God…but we are made in His image, and
our writing should reflect that image, as well. What better role model could we
possibly have than our heavenly Father, the God who made something (read that
“everything) out of nothing at all?

Reflection: As you “create” new worlds, people it with
characters and plant it with gripping situations, do you make a conscious
effort to follow the Leader’s example every step of the way, every word of the day?

Father,
You’ve called me to write, and I will. But please give me the anointing to turn
the written word into an anointed creation, to make something out of nothing,
just as You did. I ask it in the name of Jesus Christ, the Name above all
names. Amen.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

As an acquisitions editor, I read a lot of manuscript
beginnings that don’t get off to a good start. I often push on through at least
the first few chapters, but a reader isn’t required to read on. We authors want
our readers to be captured and reeled in, not wanting to stop reading our work.

So, how can we start well? Let me offer a few suggestions to
help us evaluate whether we’re off to a good start.

Does my story start
in the middle of the action?

We’ve heard this taught and read it in writing craft books,
but what does it mean? This means start with something exciting, something that
will hook the reader. Often writers begin with a beautiful description of
setting or pour on the historical background of the main character (backstory)
to make sure the reader is up to speed.

Don’t make your reader wade through all of that background
information. Jump into the story. Shock that reader! After you capture their
attention then you can go back and fill them in a little at a time as the
information is needed.

Is my story showing
the reader what is happening?

Yes, the dreaded show versus tell is important in the
beginning. Don’t cop out by using telling words like felt, thought, wondered,
and remembered. Show me in detail how the character felt. For example: Telling - She felt sad. Showing – Her chest ached and tears slid down
her cheeks and off her chin. Don’t tell the reader she felt sad. Make the
reader feel the sadness. That will further hook your reader and make them stay
for the rest of the show.

Am I following the
rules of grammar?

Ugh. English class. You got that right. Check to make sure
your writing is in proper sentence form as well as consistent in verb tense.
This is another common problem. The normally acceptable verb tense to write in
is past tense. This means that you write scurried instead of scurries. The only
times that you include present tense verbs are in dialogue and internal
monologue.

Is my POV consistent?

At the beginning of a story make sure you choose a main
character or the main character to
begin. Write only what that character can see and experience. This includes not
having that character describe her own physical description. Do not switch
point of view unless you indicate this by some kind of wingding like three
stars (***) or something similar. Remember that the POV character can’t see
herself turn red or blush. In her POV, blushing would be warmth crept to her
cheeks.

Should I start with a
prologue?

Can I be honest here? Many of the prologues I have read are
just backstory dumps. Presently, I don’t see editors really keeping a prologue.

Refer to the first suggestion – just jump into that story.
You can trickle backstory in as needed later.

Also, I’ve seen a prologue completely give away a story.
Don’t do that. Keep that reader guessing so she can’t put down that book until
she reads: The End.

These are just five simple elements a writer needs to guide
her in making sure she gets off to a good start with her story. Before clicking
that send button, really study your story’s beginning to make sure it captures
your reader and reels her in, not letting her go.

PAULA MOWERY is a pastor's wife and a former homeschool Mom.
She’s also a Christian writer. Her articles have appeared in Woman's World and
in an ongoing column on http://christianonlinemagazine.com/. She also writes
Christian fiction. Paula’s debut novella, THE BLESSING SEER came out July 6,
2012 from Pelican Book Group. The sequel, BE THE BLESSING, released Sept. 13,
2013. She is an author and acquisitions editor with Prism Book Group. My story,
Forgiven, is in the anthology, Brave New
Century which released Nov. 13, 2013. This book appeared on Amazon's Top
100 Bestsellers in Religious Historical Fiction.

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

With
the advent of cassette tapes and CDs, the term “broken record” is fast becoming
obsolete - or, at the very least, one of those terms that later generations will continue to use with no idea what it really means, or how the phrase came to be. I’m hoping most people still know what it means.

Even
if the experience is not personal, most of us have heard the result of a
scratched record. The needle gets hung in the scratch, the record keeps
spinning, and the result is an annoying repetition of the same words—over and
over…and over again.

It
happens in writing, as well. Sometimes our characters’ repetitious actions make
a reader crazy.

My
heroes chuckle a lot. They grin when I can’t think of anything else for them to
do. They love to “quirk” or “hike” an eyebrow. My ladies’ lips “curve upward in
a smile” way too often.

I
recently read a rough draft chapter for an author whose characters overused
their hands. Every few sentences, an action tag involved the word “hands.” She
wrung her hands. He ran a hand through his hair. Their hands touched. He
stuffed his hands into his pockets. She placed a hand over her mouth.

Talk
about your broken record! A whole book of that would have me breaking the
record over the hero’s head.

A
friend admitted that she uses coffee as a tool for too much of the action in
her story. He poured himself a cup of coffee. She wrapped her cold fingers
around the hot mug. He sipped the hot brew. She tasted the lukewarm liquid and set
her cup back on the table. He put on another pot of coffee. If I consumed as
much caffeine as these characters, I’d never
sleep!

No
author wants a reputation for being a broken record writer. I certainly don’t.
So how can we avoid overusing expressions and actions to the point that our
readers want to throw our books against the nearest wall?

People
communicate their internal feelings in many different ways. Non-verbal
communication can be one of a writer’s strongest tools, if used with
discretion. According to some studies, body language accounts for fifty-five percent of communication, so we
definitely should use it to make our characters more real. Experts have found
that certain actions usually indicate specific frames of mind, though some are
interchangeable.

Is she lying? These actions
might give the reader a hint:

Avoiding eye contact by looking
down or away

Using her hand to touch her
face or head

Holding something in front of
her body, like a barrier

Smiling insincerely (lips and
mouth only, it won’t reach the eyes)

Shuffling her feet

Clenching her jaw

Licking her lips

Has something captured his
attention? Non-verbal signs might include:

Direct eye contact

A nod

Tilted (or cocked) head

Leaning forward

Dilated pupils

Is your character bored? She
will show it by:

Turning her body slightly away

Looking around, but not
directly at the person or object of boredom

Glancing at her watch

Tapping her fingers or toes

Shifting weight from one foot
to the other

Yawning

If she’s attracted to someone,
she’ll do the following:

Blink rapidly

Lean toward the person she’s
attracted to

Mirror the other person’s
actions

Adjust her clothing; smooth
her hair; clean her glasses (some form of unconscious preening)

Stare

Raise her eyebrows, even if
only for a second or two

Is he undecided? He’ll
probably:

Stroke his chin, rub his cheek
or forehead

Scratch the back of his head
or neck

Narrow his eyes

Purse his lips

Tilt his head

Wrinkle his nose

Nervous people might:

Blink rapidly (Aha! Some
actions are duplicated across multiple mindsets)

Clear their throats

Wring their hands

Fidget

Massage their temples

Adjust their collars

Cross their arms

Clench their jaws or show other
signs of muscle tension

Is your character angry?
Describe it with:

Clenched fists

Frowning

Baring teeth (snarling)

Narrowing eyes

Placing hands (or fists) on
hips, feet spread

Have a hero who wants to
dominate? He will:

Walk in brisk strides

Place his hands on his hips,
and maybe spread his feet

Raise his eyebrows

Clasp his hands behind his head

Narrow his eyes

A mountain of information is
available on body language and its interpretations. If you’re in danger of too
much repetition in your characters’ actions, a little Internet research could
pay big dividends. Learn about body language and prevent your characters from
becoming robotic and repetitive…your readers from going justifiably insane…and
yourself from being a broken record writer.

DELIA LATHAM is a born-and-bred California gal, raised in a
place called Weedpatch and currently living in the lovely mountain town of
Tehachapi with her husband and a spoiled Pomeranian. She enjoys multiple roles
as Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend, but especially loves
being a princess daughter to the King of Kings. She has a "thing" for
Dr. Pepper, and loves to hear from her readers. Contact her through her website or send an e-mail to delia@delialatham.net. Find her also at
the following online locations:

Thursday, February 13, 2014

Who doesn’t love a little romance in
his or her life? Look at Valentine’s Day—all the chocolate and flowers and
fancy cards with sweet verses inscribed inside. (Did I mention the chocolate?
Because I’d hate to forget the chocolate!)

Romance writers have a special
calling. They need to take the basic plot—boy meets girl, boy falls in love
with girl, boy almost loses girl, boy wins girl—and make it new and fresh, and
different from the thousands of other stories utilizing the same plot. How to
do this? I mean, people have been falling in love forever, right? I’m assuming
Adam was the only guy who didn’t have to wonder if Eve liked someone else
better—no rivals for him.

Judging from the number of romance
books sold, we do a great job. I admit, though, that I sometimes just can’t
wrap my pen around the romance. I shudder at the thought that they just might
not make it, that some small thing, easily overcome by someone with a clearer
vision, will keep them apart forever.

How could I do that to my precious
MCs (main characters)?

(I know, as writers, we’re supposed
to. It’s still hard.)

But then I started to look at those
“small things,” the things an outsider could see as wrong, but the characters
can’t. And using those, I began to see my way.

It’s not the lie that will bring love
to your characters, but the reveal: The lie is, in fact, really a lie.

Begin on a collision course. Your
female MC’s development intersects with the male MC’s, and at the beginning of
the story, there’s no way either of them can enter into a relationship with the
other person. And yet, that person is theirs, ordained by God. You’ve got the
whole manuscript to show your characters the truth of this.

Choosing the lie is the hard part. The
fact that you’ve got to find one for each prominent character, and make them
mesh, can make you want to toss your options into the wind and let the birds
pick for you.

And don’t get me started on what these
lies have to do with love. Love should always be honest, right? But if our MCs
are lying to themselves, how can they be honest with each other?

Ooh, perfect tension.

I don’t need a man. Or a woman. I
don’t deserve love. I don’t like you. You’re not my type. I have my career to
worry about first. I have other obligations. No one will want me. There’s
someone, or something, I love more. Lots of lovely lies. Lots of lovely ploys
to keep your lovers apart.

Add in to this the faith angle, and
you’ve got even more tension. None of us are perfect in our faith, and we’re
all on our own journeys. We’re not going to match steps. And we have our
standards. What if we put those standards, or lack thereof, before the will of
God?

The middle of the story is what I
sometimes call the muddle—everything can, and should, go wrong. The fight
against the lie, loss of ground, proof that the lie is true, all these should
come about.

And then—that step of faith—whether
it’s faith in God, or self, or another person, leads to the first kiss. Just as
it should.

In my latest release, A Fistful of
God, a YA, Aidyn believes no normal boy could be interested in her. She needs
to realize her worth, that it’s all right to reach out. Miguel believes he has
to choose between protecting his mother and loving Aidyn.

Wishing you a happy, romantic
Valentine’s Day (because who wouldn’t want it?) and don’t forget the chocolate!A Fistful of God

She's never taken a drink, but she's recovering from
alcoholism all the same.

After the death of her father, teenager Aidyn Pierce spends
all her time cleaning up her mother's messes. So when Mom announces she's
getting sober, Aidyn doesn't believe her. Mom has tried before, and Aidyn knows
there will come a time—a day, a week, maybe even a month from now—when the
cravings will be too much, and her mother will start drinking again. So, when
Aidyn is encouraged to attend support meetings, she refuses. No point in
wasting her time when her mother's going to drink again, anyway.

But what Aidyn doesn't count on is the healing power of love
and friendship, and the incredible strength of God to walk both mother and
daughter through the dark valley of addiction and recovery.Therese's books on Amazon

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Writers, please understand before you try to write an inspirational romance: Placing
characters inside a church building on Sunday mornings, or having them
say grace before a meal does not make a novel inspirational.

If
I had to sum up the essence of inspirational romance in one word, I'd
use "relationship." The major difference in a secular romance and an
inspirational one really is that simple: the emotional connection (relationship) between the hero and heroine, and between the characters and God.

Aside
from the stringent expectation of quality writing, certain additional
standards exist in the world of Christian fiction. A writer hoping to
place a manuscript in this market would do well to become familiar with
those finely drawn lines and stay well within their borders.

I can point out the right direction. You'll have to choose the roads.

1. The sensuality meter

I was once challenged by someone who felt the words "Christian" and "romance" conflicted.

"You
cannot write about romance and call it a Christian book," he stated.
"Christians don't partake in romance, at least not until after they're
married. And no one wants to read about that stuff between a husband and
wife. What's the point?"

How sad, this inability to distinguish between sex and romance!

Let me try to make it easy.

Romance is the wooing of another's heart and the emotions involved in that courtship.

Sex is the physical consummation of a physical attraction (no relationship necessary).

In
a Christian romance, sex is off limits for the unmarried hero/heroine,
and takes place behind closed doors for married ones. What's left?
Relationship.

That said, eliminating blatant sexual activity is not the be-all and end-all of an inspirational novel. What
is important is the interweaving of the characters' spiritual journeys
into their lives—and that includes their romantic overtures.

Physical attraction should be a part of the story, but it will be communicated through emotions instead of hormones.
He may notice the way the heroine's dress accentuates her curves, but
he won't focus on those curves. He'll be drawn to her sense of humor,
her generosity, her sweetness of spirit. Neither is she blind to how he
looks in those hip-hugging jeans, or the way his muscles bulge when he
ropes that heifer. But her emotional reactions will supersede any
physical ones. She'll be moved by his gentleness with an injured
animal…touched by the respectful way he handles an annoying elderly
neighbor…moved to tears by his love for children.

2. Christian protagonists

A Christian romance will focus ontwo relationships:

the one developing between the hero and heroine, and

the one between those characters and Christ. (This one must be clearly defined, either from the start of the story, or by the end of it.)

It
is acceptable to start a book with a protagonist who doesn't know or is
estranged from God, but that spiritual rapport will grow and evolve
throughout the storyline and must be reconciled by the last page.

3. Dealing with sin

In
real life, Christian people live with and among non-Christians. So it
is within the pages of a book. Contributing characters may smoke or
drink, get pregnant before marriage, have abortions, cheat, steal,
lie…even murder. That's life. These characters' non-conformity to a
godly lifestyle adds color to the storyline.

It is crucial, however, that the main characters either stay on the straight path or find it.

4. Preaching

Ultimate challenge: Do all of the above without turning the story into a sermon.
Readers read for entertainment and escape - not a class on
Christianity. Any message the author wishes to deliver must be woven
seamlessly into the storyline. The reader should not be aware of any spiritual lesson…until it's already learned.

What makes Christian fiction Christian? The differences aren't many, but mighty.
I like to think of it as giving my readers a touch of Heaven in an
earthly tale. Why wouldn't I write on this side of the line?

Delia
Latham is a born-and-bred California gal, currently living in the small
mountain town of Tehachapi with her husband Johnny. She’s a Christian
wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend—but above all, she
treasures her role as princess daughter to the King of Kings.

A
former newspaper Staff Writer and frequent contributor to her
hometown’s regional publication, Bakersfield Magazine, she has also
freelanced projects to a public relations firm and various magazines;
has compiled, edited, and designed cover art for various Kindness
Incorporated projects; and sold greeting card verse. Find out more about
this author on her website, blog, Facebook Author Page, or Twitter. She also shares a blog with the Heart’s Haven writing team. She loves hearing from her readers, so drop in and say hello—you’ll make her day!

Thursday, February 6, 2014

A few emails have come through my inbox lately announcing the opening
of writers’ contests. I’ve entered some over the years and served as a
judge for several.

I want to share some “in it to win it” tips from the perspective of a
contest judge. What do we look for? Why do scores vary so widely
between judges? What lessons are there to be learned from entering a
contest? Which contest should I enter?

What do judges look for?

I can’t speak for other judges and their methods, but I will share what I expect to find when I evaluate a contest entry.First, I give the entry a rapid read. This is where I make comments
within the body of the work on blatant errors, such as obvious incorrect
grammar, spelling, or word usage.

Example: King Hawthorne rained over the land of Lavindale with an iron fist.

Unless you intend for King Hawthorne to possess the power of a god who can produce rain, the word you want is reigned.

Example: “I don’t suppose you would go with me.” She said.

There should be a comma after me, not a period.

While revealing the writer’s knowledge of basic writing skills, his
first read also gives me an idea of what the story is about, the
writer’s voice, and her grasp of basic story elements, such as point of
view and characterization.

The second read is when I evaluate content: the initial hook, the
flow of the story, motivation of characters, balance of dialogue versus
narrative, and use of descriptive detail. These factors weigh heavily
when scoring.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when editng your work before entering it in a contest:

What have I revealed in my first line that compels the reader to
want to know more about the character or situation I have introduced?

Suggestion: Create a situation that conveys a sense of urgency or a character forced to make a major decision.

Have I defined my characters in such a manner that readers can identify with them on some level?

Suggestion: This does not necessarily refer to physical
description. Give the reader insight into your character’s goals,
motivation, and response to his situation.

Does the story move forward without multiple references to the character’s past?

Suggestion: Stay in the moment. Do not jerk the reader out of the story with paragraphs of backstory.

Suggestion: Don’t tell the reader your character walked out of
an air conditioned building into sweltering heat. Show him squinting
against the brilliance of the sun because he misplaced his sunglasses.
Describe the feel of the trickle of sweat down his back in the 100+
degree temperature.

Have I used descriptive action verbs?

Suggestion: Specify your action verbs. A character who walks
into a meeting late draws less attention than a character who stomps,
marches, bursts, flounces, or saunters through the door.

These are just a few of the basic elements that will make or
break your story when you place it in competition with the work of other
writers.

Why do scores vary so widely between judges?One of the most enjoyable social activities I engage in is our local
monthly book club. Even though we all read the same book, we come away
with a different perspective on the story, the characters, and the
author’s motivation for writing it.

Just like readers, every judge brings to the table their own thoughts
and biases about what is good writing and what isn’t. Keep in mind that
most judges do have some level of experience to back up their observations about your writing. If the same issue is brought to
your attention by more than one judge, recognize it as a weakness that
needs to be improved upon and take steps to do so.

On the other hand, you know your story. If you disagree with one
judge’s suggestion of recommended changes, seek input from other
writers.

What do I gain from entering a contest?

Self-esteem is #1. You did it! You consider yourself a writer and you
have the confidence to put your “baby” out there in front of sometimes
very critical eyes.

You will receive valuable input from people in the industry who have seen hundreds, maybe even thousands, of stories.You must exercise the discipline required to meet a deadline.

You learn to follow directions. This may sound silly, but it prepares
you for meeting submission guidelines set forth by a publishing house.
Often, failure to use proper format will result in rejection, both in a
contest and from an editor.

Which contests should I enter?

Almost all writing contests charge an entry fee. You can find as
small or as large of a competition as you want. Writing groups in your
area may offer contests. Various chapters of organizations such as RWA
(Romance Writers of America) sponsor contests. ACFW (American Christian
Fiction Writers) offers an annual contest as well as individual chapter
contests. National publications such as Guideposts advertise an annual writing contest.

Prizes vary from a few dollars to large amounts of cash. Sometimes,
publication in the respective magazine or on a website is realized, free
admission to a workshop or conference, or paid membership in a writers’
organization.Consider the level of competition you wish to engage in. If you’ve
never submitted work, you may be entering solely for the feedback you
will receive. A smaller, less expensive contest would be more
appropriate to meet that need.Whatever contest you choose to enter, do so with an “In It to Win It”
attitude, incorporating the above tips to polish your work until it is
the best it can possibly be. Even if you don’t clinch that coveted first
place spot, you come out a winner for the experience you will have
gained.

Patti Shene has enjoyed writing since childhood. She
is published in two anthologies, Love is a Verb Devotional and Angels,
Miracles, and Heavenly Encounters, as well as in local publication

She served as Executive Editor for Starsongs, a publication of
Written World Communications (WWC), written for kids by kids from 2010 –
2013. She also held the position of Division Manager for YA and
Children’s Imprints with WWC for several months.

She has three novels in progress. Patti enjoys encouraging other
writers by judging contests and featuring writers as guests on her
three blogs, located at www.pattishene.com.Patti is a retired RN, formerly from Long Island, who resides in a
small Colorado town with her husband of thirty-six years. They have two
wonderful adult children and one amazing 12- yr old granddaughter.

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

This post is part of a mini-blog hop, in which a few writers have
committed to writing their own 10 Commandments of Writing, and sharing
them with each other and the public via posting to their blogs.
Following is my own, personal Ten Commandments of Writing. The other
authors are listed at the bottom of this post, with links to their
Commandments. We hope you’ll visit them all!

1.Thou shalt not make writing thy god.

Whatever
has top priority in our lives becomes our god. In my life, only God is
God. I will control my career; it will not control me. Writing is high
on my priority list, but God is #1 on that same list. Family is #2. Then comes Career…#3.

II Peter 2:19b—People are slaves to whatever has mastered them.

2.Thou
shalt never forget Who gave thee the talent to write. Allow this Giver
of Gifts to dictate the words thou writest, and never forget that thou
art nothing more than a scribe for Christ.

God
is the author. I am only His transcriptionist. ALL the glory…ALL the
honor…ALL the recognition belong to Him. Should I ever be blessed with
success in the publishing industry, I will never fail to recognize the
true Author of the books whose covers bear my name.

1 Corinthians 10:31—Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

3.Thou shalt write something every day.

A journal entry, a blog, a short story or article. A chapter in your current WIP. Something. Every. Day.

That
said, life sometimes hands out a slice of “Surprise Pie” that puts a
kink in the works of my best-laid plans. Things will happen that I
cannot control. As often as possible, I will push aside, climb over or
dig under the road blocks and write anyway. But on days when it “just
ain’t happenin’,” I will not let that little kink clog my writing
arteries. I will make up for the day’s loss by writing more the next day or two.

Proverbs 24:16— For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again.

4.Thou shalt write a certain number of words per week on a current WIP.

Even when certain days do not include working on my WIP, by the end of the week, a specified word count goal should be met. Consistently. Every
week. Otherwise I’ll end up being buried someday with a stack of
journals no one wants to nose into tucked into the folds of my
satin-lined casket…and very few completed, published and well-received
novels.

Proverbs 16:3— Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.

5.Thou shalt not be kind to thy hero/heroine.

Effective
conflict does not happen with spoiled characters. As a writer, my job
is not to mollycoddle my hero and/or heroine. I must toss them into a
rink with the three H’s: Hardship, Heartbreak and Hopelessness.
Take away the things they love most. Put them in situations that seem
impossible to overcome…and then help them overcome them. (Or, in the
words of James Scott Bell, “Get your lead up a tree, throw things at him, get him down.”) Just
like in real life (and the Army, of course), sometimes a little tough
love is necessary to make a person “be all they can be.”

Ps. 66:10-12 (NIV)—10 For you, God, tested us; you refined us like silver. 11 You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs. 12 You let people ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance.

6.Thou shalt be a ruthless killer of thy “darlings.”

My
words are not sacred. I will cut them. Edit them. Scratch them. Toss
them. Learn to tell the difference in gold and “fool’s gold.” I’ll keep
the best, toss the rest…then put the “best” to the test and start the
process all over again. Eventually, I will hold in my hand a shining
nugget of pure literary gold. A true darling.

Pro. 25:4—Take away the dross from the silver, and there shall come forth a vessel for the finer.

7.Thou
shalt accept constructive criticism with grace, and willingly learn
from the wisdom already gained by more experienced authors.

The Bible has a lot
to say about the ability to receive instruction…and the woes that
befall those who refuse to do so. Success comes from applying oneself to
learning from others who have already “been there.” No one is born
knowing everything he or she needs to know to be successful — in life or
in any chosen field.

It’s
crucial that I develop a thick skin and absorb instruction and
constructive criticism like the water of life…because, as far as my
career is concerned, it is. I will ask for it. Accept it. Take it with a smile. Apply it. And I will become a better writer.

The
circle of writing life. One learns, and then passes on that acquired
knowledge to less experienced writers…even as one continues to learn
more. I will never stop learning and never stop passing on the blessing
of knowledge. The circle never ends.

Genesis 12:2— And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing.

Learning
writing techniques and mechanics from more experienced authors is a
good thing. Trying to duplicate their writing styles is not a good thing. I will learn from others, but I will apply my own skills and talents and experiences and uniqueness to develop a voice and writing style of my own. I will write like me. Mimicry and uncomplimentary comparison of myself to another writer is not beneficial.

2 Corinthians 10:12—…but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise.

10.Thou shalt write with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and will all thy strength, and with all thy might.

I will write with passion and joy. Nothing offered half-heartedly is ever good enough.

I
will love what I’m doing for as long as I do it. If I stop loving it, I
will stop doing it. I cannot write with passion if I don’t love to
write. And if I can’t write with passion, I’m wasting my time and my
readers’ time. I will love it or leave it.

However,
I must remember that “the gift and calling of God are without
repentance.” God has called me to write, and He’s not going to change
His mind. But He wants me to be joyful in my journey. Based on Ps. 16:11
(see below), it would stand to reason that, if I lose joy in doing what
God called me to do, then I must have somehow taken myself out of the
presence of the Lord. If that happens, I must find Him again… absorb
myself in His presence…and find my way back to a joyful writing journey.

Col. 3:23— Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

Ps. 16:11— Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.

Well, those are MY commandments. The links below
contain commandments written by author friends. Please…won’t you visit
them, as well?

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